When It's Right by Ryan Jennifer

Author:Ryan, Jennifer [Ryan, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2015-04-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Gillian stood by Boots’s corral, watching him prance around the small open space. After two weeks of eating regularly, he’d gained some weight and energy. The more time she spent with him, the more relaxed and outgoing he became, and the less he shied away from everyone and everything. Proud of him for coming out of his shell, she smiled and felt lighter. His accomplishment became her own. She’d done better the last few days, not looking over her shoulder every few seconds when she worked in the barn with Boots. She didn’t try to hide from the others working in the barn, or time her entrance and exit for when there were the fewest men in there.

Things with Blake settled into a more normal friendship. She didn’t back away when he approached. She didn’t flinch when he brushed his hand down her long hair, his favorite thing to do any time she was near. The smile he gave her each morning when she came down to breakfast lit up her heart with such warmth that she couldn’t help smiling back.

He kissed her goodnight before he left each night and gave her a look like it pained him to be away from her. The longing in his eyes matched what she felt in her heart. But they’d agreed to take things slow. Make sure the friendship they were building was the foundation for a future and didn’t turn into the destruction of their lives at Three Peaks.

Today, he had some work to do training a couple of quarter horses, so she’d borrowed his MP3 player to pass the time while she waited for Justin’s school bus to arrive. She worked her way through Blake’s eclectic playlist.

Right now she didn’t have anything more important to do than hang out by Boots’s corral, watching him crop grass in the field and rest her aching arms and knee. She’d cut back on her pain meds. Each day she felt stronger.

With Jason Aldean’s “Johnny Cash” blaring in her ears, she didn’t hear anyone come up behind her. A hand settled on her shoulder and pulled her around. She expected Blake, but found herself staring up at a very tall, wide man looming over her. With her back pressed to the fence, she couldn’t step away. He was saying something to her, but with the music blasting in her ears, she didn’t hear him. She pulled one earbud out.

“. . . Pain in My Ass. Have you seen him?”

All Gillian heard was “pain in my ass.” The same thing her father said to her over and over again, day in and day out. The huge man’s face faded and shifted into her father’s. His heavy black coat turned to a white T-shirt. Blood bloomed across his chest. He reached out to her again, but she sank back against the fence, bent at the waist, and fell through the railing, her heart thrashing against her ribs.

He’s back.

He’ll hurt her again.

Fear washed over her and stole her breath.

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